Therapeutic arc lamp



Jan. 10, 1933. a. HEBNER THERAPEUTIC ARC-LAMP Filled Dec.

1 N V EN TOR.

A TTORN Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES OLE HIBNER, OF CLEVELAND,OHIO THERAPEUTIC ARC LAMP Application filed December 26, 1929. SerialNo. 416,425.

My invention relates to are lamps and relates more particularly to arelamps adapted to produce therapeutic effects, and which are commonlyknown as therapeutic lamps.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon theapparatus disclosed in my prior copending application for LettersPatent, Serial Number 338,684, filed February 19, 1929.

In my said copending application I disclosed a pair of tubular holdersfor carbon electrodes of a therapeutic lamp, telescoped therein andconvergingly projecting by end portions therefrom, these being supportedintermediate their ends upon individual supports, and insulatedtherefrom by tubular sleeves placed over the electrode holders.

In the said copending application also I have disclosed means forresiliently retracting the supports toward normal operative angularposition, relatively to each other, and to the supporting shelf on whichthey are pivoted.

An object of my present invention is to provide improved means forsupporting the tubular electrode supports of a therapeutic lamp of thesame general type as that disclosed in my said copending application.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved therapeuticlamp of the above said general type wherein the the elec' trodes arefirmly supported and insulated from each other in an improved manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a very simple andinexpensive manner, for the relative insulation and individual supportof a pair of cooperative electrodes of a therapeutic lamp.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved therapeuticlamp of the above character, wherein improved electrode supporting meansare provided which are inherently resilient, to permit manually effecteddeflection of either or both of the electrode supports, for striking anare between the ends of the electrodes.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains,from the following description of an embodiment of my invention, whereinreference is had to the accompanying drawing illustrating the saidembodiment.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a transverse section of principal fragments ofa lamp embodying my invention, certain parts thereof being shown inelevation.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal medial sectional view of a portion of one ofthe electrode hold ers and its suported electrode the latter being shownin elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showingsaid holder parts and said electrode.

Referring now to the different figures of drawing in all of which likeparts are designated by like reference characters, at l I show a metalhood provided for the purpose vof enclosing an electric are adapted tobe maintained between the ends of a pair of carbon electrodes 10, whichare supported by tubular metal holders 20 in converging relationtherein. 7

The form of the hood may be varied widely in accordance with the wellknown practice, but in the form shown, it is provided with tubular sidewalls 1 and an end wall 2, the opposite end of the hood, not shown,being left open whereby the light from the are be tween the ends of thecarbon electrodes may be projected forwardly therethrough.

At 8 I provide a heavy block of refractory material which is alsoelectrically insulating, the block being secured to the rear wall 2 ofthe hood by bolts 6, or in any other suitable manner. The hood isapertured at 3 on the two opposite sides thereof near its open end andits rear wall 2 is also apertured on either side ofthe block 8 at 11.

Projecting laterally from the forward face of the block 8 are provided apair of inherently resilient sheet metal supports 7 which are boltedthereto by bolts 9, the bolts 9 and the supports 7 being, however,electri cally insulated by the material of the block 8 from the bolt(land the rear wall 2 of the hood.

Each oftheresilient supports? carry at their ends an apertured metalblock 12 rigidly secured thereto as by rivets 13. Through the aperturesof the blocks 12 and aligned apertures through the ends of the resilientsupport 7, the tubular metallic electrode supports 20 are projected,preferably fitting snugly therein, and means such as set screws 14 areprovided to adjustably restrain longitudinal or rotary movement of thetubular supports 20 relative to the supporting blocks 12. The tubularsupports 20 project both forwardly and rearwardly from the aperturedblocks 12 and at their forward ends support an electrode adjustingmechanism and terminate at their rear ends rearwardly and exteriorly ofthe rear wall 2 of the hood.

:The carbon or other electrodes are fed into the tubes 20 preferablyfrom the rear, and rest loosely therein with their tips projected fromthe forward ends thereof in relative converging relation. The tubes 20have their rear ends longitudinally slotted at 42 to provide a pair ofinwardly compressible contact tongues 43. l

. Over the rear end of each of the tubes 20, a refractory heat andelectrical insulating tube '15 is telescoped to abut against thesecuring rivets 13 of the tube carrying'blocks 12, and extendsrearwardly through one of the apertures 11 of the hood rear wall nearlyto the rear end of the metal tube 20 and a metal collar 16 ispress-fitted onto the non-slotted portion of each tube to abut againstthe rear end of the refractory insulating tube 15, whereby saidrefractory tube is held securely between said collar and the rivets 13for the lock 12.

The forward ends of the tubes 20 have their upper sides cut away to formelon 'ated openings 17 therethrough, the cut providing said openingspreferably extending substantially below thelongitudinal middle of thetubes. An electrode adjusting mechanism is supported on the forward endof each of the tubes 20, by a heavy bored metal block18 fitted snuglyonto the tube just rearwa'rdly of the elongated aperture 17 thereof.

The block 18 supports a pair of side plates 19 projected forwardlytherefrom, these being notched from their upper edges at 21 to receive arotatable electrode adjusting rod 22 projected through the alignednotches 21 of the two plates over the longitudinal middle of theaperture 17 of the supporting metal tube 20, the inner end of whichterminates just outside of the plate 19, but whose other end isprojected laterally at right angles to the tube 20 through the adjacentaperture 3 of the hood, and supports a turning handle of refractoryelectrical insulating ,material formed with a turning knob 24 at itsend, said handle projecting by its stem 23 over said rod 22 through saidaperture 3'to insulate the rod from the hood 1 and from the hands of theoperator, when manipulating said knob.

Rigidly carried on each rod 22 near its end and intermediate the sideplates 19, but spaced therefrom, 1 provide a spool-shaped roller 25 toturn with the rod 22 and by a frictional engagement with its associatedcarbon electrode .10, which is accomplished by virtue of portions of thespool engaging the electrode through the aperture 17 as is best shown inFig. 3.

The frictional engagement between each roller 25 and its associatedelectrode 10 is resiliently maintained by a wire spring having anintermediate coil 27, a supporting arm 28 extending tangentiallytherefrom, having its end secured to the block 18 by a set screw 29, andits other tangential extending arm 26 communicating'spring pressure tothe roller through its terminal hook 30 and the wire stirrup 31 whoseintermediate portion is engaged by said hook. The stirrup is providedwith a pair of arms each terminating in a hook 32 which pass upwardlybetween the plates 19 and the adjacent ends of the roller 25 and arehooked over the turning rod 22 to draw the roller 25 by said rod intoresiliently maintained frictional engagement with the electrode 10 whichis thereby closely pressed against the lower inner wall of the tube 20to increase the. effectiveness of the electrical contact had therewith,said tube. wall forming a slideway for the electrode when longitudinalmovement of the electrode is effected by turning of the roller.

It will be understood that the adjusting function of the mechanism justdescribed is. to effect adjustablylongitudinal movement of either orboth of the electrodes 10 which are disposed in converging relation tobring their forwardly disposed points as closely together as is requiredto effect an eilicient. electric are between them, upon the passage ofan electrical current through said electrodes and the arc. At therearends of each of the tubes 20 an electrical connector mechanism isprovided including a cap 33 of refractory electrical insulatingmaterial, a metallic contact cup 34 telescoped into the interior recessof said cap and snugly held therein, in combination with the springtongues 35 provided by the slotting as at of the rear ends of each ofthe tubes 20 which project rearwa-rdly beyond the rigidly affixed collar16.

The insulating caps 33 are provided with an interior recess comprisingsuccessively reduced portions 37 and 38, the first loosely fitting overthe rear end of the refractory insulating tube 15 and the second morereduced portion tightly holding the contact cup 34, and also adapted toreceive the collar. 16 in' longitudinal spaced relation to the forwardedge of said contact cap. As shown, the contact cap is adapted to betelescoped over the spring tongues 35 forming therear terminal of eachof the metal tubes 20, and a good electrical contact is had between theouter surfaces of said tongues and the inner walls of said contact cap.An electrical circuit conductor 39 is projected through an axiallydisposed opening at the rear of the cap 33 and by a non-insulatedportion 40 proj ects through an aperture of the rear wallof the contactcap to which it is rigidly secured by a connector screw 41.

Both the knobs 24 on the electrode adjusting rods 22 and the cover caps33 for the rear ends of the electrode containing tubes 20, are adaptedto serve as handles to momentarily displace the tubes 20 to moreconverging relative positions, in order to bring the forwardlyprojecting points of the electrodes momentarily together in order tostrike the arc between said points.

The resilient metal strips 7, while sutlicient- 1y strong to hold theelectrode supports in a given normal position during use aresulficiently resilient and yielding to manual pressure efiected uponsaid knobs 24 or said caps 33 to permit the inward deflection of theends of the tubes 20 for striking of the are as described, andimmediately when the deflecting manually applied pressure is relievedwill re store the parts to their normal operative position, wherein thepoints will be spaced perhaps three-eighths of an inch apart, with theelectrodes in a more forward position adjustment than convenient to beillustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Having thus described my invention in a given embodiment, I am awarethat numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodimentof my invention herein illustrated and described, but without departingfrom the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a therapeutic are lamp, a pair of elongated metallic tubes formingholders, each for an elongated electrode telescoped therein andprojected by their ends converging-ly therefrom, an insulating platedisposed intermediate said tubes, and a pair of inherently resilientsheet metal strips each rigidly secured by an end to and extending fromsaid plate, means for fixedly mounting each of said tubes in relativeconverging relation on a free end of each of said strips, the stripsbeing adapted to bend generally in the direction of the axis of thetubes respectively, a hood having an open end enclosing said plate, saidstrips and the converging ends of said electrodes supported by saidplate, said hood apertured to permit rearward projection of divergingends of said tubes, insulating means surrounding the outwardly projectedends of said tubes exteriorly of the hood, said outwardly projected endsadapted for manual engagement for effecting momentary deflection of atleast one of said tubes whereby an arc may be struck between theconverging ends of said electrodes from without the hood.

2. In a therapeutic arc lamp, a pair of elongated metalic tubes formingholders, each for an elongated electrode telescoped therein andprojected by their ends convergingly therefrom, an insulating platedisposed intermediate said tubes, and a pair of inherently resilientsheet metal strips each rigidly secured by an end to and extendinglaterally in opposite directions from said plate, means for fixedlymounting each of said tubes in relative converging relation on a freeend of each of said strips, the strips being adapted to bend generallyin the direction of the axis of the tubes respectively, a hood having anopen end enclosing said plate, said strips and the converging ends ofsaid electrodes supported by said plate, said hood apertured to permitrearward projection of diverging ends of said tubes, insulating meanssurrounding the outwardly projected ends of said tubes exteriorly of thehood, said outwardly projected ends adapted for manual engagement foreffecting momentary deflection of at least one of said tubes whereby anarc may be struck between the converging ends of said electrodes fromwithout the hood, and separable electrical connecting means foreffecting an electrical connection to the free ends of said tubes, andinsulating means surrounding said electrical Connecting means.

3. In a therapeutic arc lamp, a pair of elongated metal tubes formingelectrical conducing holders each for an elongated arc electrodetelescoped therein and projected by their ends convergingly therefrom,insulating plate means, a pair of inherently resilient strips eachsecured by an end to said plate means, and means securing each of saidtubes in relative converging relation on the free end of each of saidstrips, the strips being adapted to bend generally in the direction ofthe axis of the tubes respectively, a hood supporting said plate meansinteriorly thereof enclosing the free ends of said tubes and electrodes,and means secured to said tubes projecting exteriorly of said hood andadapted for manual displacement to strike an are between the convergingends of said electrodes by resilient yielding of said strips, saidexteriorly extending means comprising for each of the tubes a rotatablerod, an insulating handle for the rod at its exteriorly disposed end,and a friction clutch roller secured to the inner end of the rod infrictional engagement with the electrode within the associated tube.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 19th day ofDecember, 1929.

OLE HIBNER.

